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Public essays and reflections published from the Gamantra community.

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The Practice

The Woman Who Fell from the Sky

May 13, 2026

In an old Haudenosaunee creation story, a woman falls from the Sky World. Below her, there is no land. Only water. As she falls, birds rise to meet her. They soften her descent. The animals gather. They see she needs a place to rest. One by one, they try to…

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Impermanence

Impermanence Within

May 12, 2026

So far, it is easy to speak about change outside. The seasons change. The body changes. Relationships change. Circumstances change. But what about within? What about our ideas? Our beliefs? Our opinions? Our perceptions? What about the idea of who we are? The great question, “Who am I?” is often…

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The Practice

Plato’s Allegory of the Cave as a story about illusion

May 11, 2026

A group of people are chained inside a cave. They have lived there their whole lives. Behind them is a fire. In front of them is a wall. Objects pass behind them, casting shadows on the wall. And because the prisoners have never seen anything else, they believe the shadows…

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Narrative Addiction

Narrative Addiction - The Story That Forms

May 9, 2026

Low tide shoreline — Words gather into meaning. Silence left behind. Something happens. A message arrives. A glance is exchanged. A plan changes. The moment itself is simple. But almost instantly, something else begins. A layer forms. A story. Not slowly. Not deliberately. Automatically. “They meant this." ”This is going…

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A Beginners Guide to Meditation

A Beginners Guide to Meditation

May 9, 2026

The chapter series serves as a comprehensive guide to meditation, shifting the focus from a goal-oriented exercise to a natural state of awareness. It clarifies that meditation is not about silencing thoughts through force but about observing the mind's movements without judgment. By emphasizing gentle attention on the breath, the…

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